Veterans salute all who've served with high-flying flags

American, POW-MIA and those representing the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine whip in the breeze in front of the Hollywood Estates clubhouse in West Melbourne.(Photo: Sharilyn Kesten, for FLORIDA TODAY)Buy Photo

Cane in hand, Robert Zuber sat by a bare flagpole, listening intently to a speaker talking about Zuber's service in World War II.

Then, with help from the Space Coast Young Marines and to big applause, 99-year-old Zuber hoisted the Merchant Marine flag.

Zuber's moment in the Florida sun came Saturday at Hollywood Estates in West Melbourne, in a dedication ceremony ending with the American, POW-MIA and flags for each branch of the U.S. military whipping in a slight breeze. A fundraising effort by veterans living at the mobile home park paid for the erection of seven flagpoles and the flags in front of the park clubhouse.

Buy Photo

Navy veteran Austin Duggan speaks to a crowd of about 150 at a flag-raising ceremony at Hollywood Estates in West Melbourne.(Photo: Britt Kennerly, FLORIDA TODAY)

Having the flags flying means the world to the vets and families who made it happen, said Austin Duggan, co-founder of the Veterans Club of Hollywood Estates.

“It’s a sign of respect for our armed forces, to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and to all who served,” he said.

CLOSE

Robiin Kiepert of Merritt Island planted 660 flags in the ground at the Brevard Memorial Veterans Center on Merritt Island to bring awareness to veteran suicide. Her son died from PTSD related suicide. Video by Malcolm Denemark

The event drew around 150 guests, from park residents and veterans to West Melbourne Mayor Hal Rose, Deputy Mayor Pat Bentley and council member Andrea Young.

Mayor Rose praised the efforts, past and present, of the park's veterans.

CLOSE

Satellite High football players places flags in thousands of yards Thursday. Video by Brian McCallum. Posted June 30, 2017.

"It never ceases to amaze me the length that they go to honor our veterans every single day of the year," he said. "This certainly is a magnificent mayor moment."

Along with Zuber, others raising flags Saturday were Bob St. George, Army; Tom Shumaker, Marines; Ray Farawell; Air Force; David Reed, who served in the Navy from 1942 to 1961; and Denley Daw, Army.

Buy Photo

Army veteran Bob St. George,right, hoists the Army flag at Hollywood Estates, assisted by members of the Space Coast Young Marines.(Photo: Britt Kennerly, FLORIDA TODAY)

Zuber shook hands with people young and old.

"It's very, very nice, what they've done here," said Zuber, a Merchant Marine from 1943 to 1945.

Buy Photo

Robert Zuber, 99, a member of the Merchant Marine in World War II, waits his turn to raise a flag Saturday at Hollywood Estates in West Melbourne.(Photo: Britt Kennerly, FLORIDA TODAY)

Duggan and Warren Duff, both Navy veterans, founded the veterans group more than a year ago, naming officers and bylaws. The group hosts holiday fundraiser picnics. In the clubhouse, members hang veterans’ photos and when those vets pass on, black ribbons adorn their pictures. One member arranged to get a piece of the U.S.S. Arizona for display.

"It's a chance for the guys to get together, exchange stories," Duggan said. "We've had people in from Honor Flight, to explain it and make sure anyone who wants to go is signed up. We have counselors from the Veterans Administration to give talks. We wanted to provide not just a social club, but one that can help vets.”

Buy Photo

Merchant Marine veteran Robert Zuber, 99, who served in World War II, left, is greeted by West Melbourne Mayor Hal Rose during a flag-raising ceremony at Hollywood Estates.(Photo: Britt Kennerly, FLORIDA TODAY)

Most, these vets, ranging in age from baby boomer to almost 100, share love of country — and a desire to support all veterans of all ages.

So because a hurricane had snapped the flagpole in front of the clubhouse, and another wasn’t erected for the American flag, “we got to talking,” Duggan said.

That led to fundraising: around $900 for the flagpoles, American and military flags.

CLOSE

Satellite High football players put out 10, 000 flags in Satellite Beach and Indian Harbour Beach for for the 4th of July, trying for a flag in each yard.
Malcolm Denemark, FLORIDA TODAY

Daw, declarant of the park, "was important in making this happen,' Duggan said.

Daw, who joined the Army in 1973, was visibly moved by being asked to raise the American flag.

"It was probably one of the biggest honors of my entire military affiliation, 26 years," he said.

"It was a grand ceremony and I'm so glad it was accomplished here in Hollywood Estates, for the memory and the exceptionalism of all the veterans who have gone before us."

Buy Photo

Members of the Space Coast Young Marines wait to assist with flag-raising duties at Hollywood Estates in West Melbourne, where a Saturday ceremony was held to hoist American POW-MIA and all military branch flags.(Photo: Britt Kennerly, FLORIDA TODAY)

It's a nod to the present and future, too, said Duggan.

"These young men and women serving today … they deserve everything," he said. "It’s nice to see how the country has spun back toward the military getting the respect they deserve, and all the patriotism we’re seeing.”

Contact Kennerly at 321-242-3692 or bkennerly@ﬂoridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @bybrittkennerly or at Facebook.com/bybrittkennerly.